Buying a banger

[HarryMonkey]

A MK3 Mondeo 2000-2007 can be had for less than a grand and are solid.

 

 

Yep. I just picked up a 1.8 Mondeo on a 54 plate for £850. Cruise control, air con etc. It's got a few supermarket scratches but runs like a dream.

[synaesthesia]

what tax like on petrol mondeos of that era? (1.8)

[HarryMonkey]

what tax like on petrol mondeos of that era? (1.8)

 

£220 for a year ...

 

Road Tax Prices - Ford Mondeo Saloon (00-07) 1.8 Zetec 4d (00) | Car Tax Calculator | Parkers

[witch]

Looking at the sort of things my children drive or have driven:

Lupo, Micra, Polo, Golf, Ka, Peugeot (never had any major electrics issues - mrwITch has driven Pugs for years).

Remember the insurance issue though - the most common cars have higher insurance which is why I would avoid Fiesta and Escort quite apart from any mechanical issues

[simpsonj]

Kia Swift, whilst pretty unfashionable, seems to be a pretty good car. Girlfriend picked one up for around £600 6 months ago to learn in, and it just flew through its MOT.

 

Not exactly speedy mind, but this might be a good thing! Tbh, at his age, I was just happy to have wheels, so a Peugeot 205 did the trick for me.

[Geoff]

I've had ford escorts/fiestas. Currently running around in a '96 Ford Fiesta. Mantainance is low, it's boring obvious stuff like rubber hoses, tyres and lamp bulbs.

[happymeal]

Well...I'm currently selling mine if your interested?

 

Rover 25, W reg, 1.6, 93k on the clock - had it for around 3 years and responsible for putting 60k on the clock! Used it to drive from Blackburn to Manchester, and off to camp twice a month (so your looking at around 300 mile a week, give or take).

 

The only problem I've had is with it overheating - but I didn't check the car over as much then, now I check it once a month and keep it topped up with water/coolant/oil and I've admittedly had no problems since.

 

PM me if your interested - won't cost you a grand either!

[laserblazer]

Thanks for the offer but a bit distant I'm afraid.

[happymeal]

Wow, yeah, just realised your all the way down there!

[Sunnyknight]

the most common cars have higher insurance which is why I would avoid Fiesta and Escort quite apart from any mechanical issues

 

1.8si, 96k on the clock, £400 for insurance from Admiral.

 

Unsure why anyone would 'avoid' that

 

Plus, most of the mk6's cost about £500 and last about 3 years (if you replace the sills every 3 years (£34 each)).

[Geoff]

My Fiesta is on classic car insurance.

[3s-gtech]

The thing with Hondas, especially the Civic - I've know the insurance for younger drivers on these to be horrific, possibly due to the fact they often have small engines with high specific power output. Pug 106 diesel is perfect for a young driver.

 

Awful crash protection, so they'll do their best to avoid crashing. But, it's slower than continental drift, so if it does get crashed, it won't have been going fast enough to dent the bumpers.

Pennies to run.

Most bits that fall off are non-essential (and the build quality on many French diesels is actually very good)

Very cheap to buy.

[featured_spectre]

I would say check pistonheads for advice on makes and models of cars and their reliability, as for the price, you could buy a few cars that would last a while

 

Mazda, Toyota, and Honda are solid as a rock when it comes to engine build, my mum still drives around an M reg mazda, done over 300'000 miles, only thing it needed was a new cambelt and a new fanbelt after they snapped from excessive wear.

[laserblazer]

only thing it needed was a new cambelt and a new fanbelt after they snapped from excessive wear.

 

I have to say, it's the cambelt breaking that worries me most. Expensive to fix I believe?

[difinity]

@laserblazer.

It depends on the car, some the belt snaps and there is no impact between the pistons and valves, the belt can be replaced and off you go..

Other engines, the K-series to name one will bend the valves, so possible engine rebuild before fitting a new belt.

[Sirbendy]

Missus has as a first car, W plate Skoda Fabia Classic 1.4MPi. Comparable to Polo, 99% parts commonality. Cost £800, Insurance at 26 for a first ever car, recent test pass wasn't horrific. It's no tarmac melter, but it's pretty nippy.

 

Being the Classic MPi, the engine is the old Skoda MPi lump, not a VAG unit. Camchain unit too, so pretty damn bombproof. Quite spacious too - holds our 2 ERF carseats easily, plus us, plus a bootfull.

 

Mind you, cambelts shouldn't be a huge concern..if you buy an unknown quantity, get it changed ASAP. I always do, along with anything else (idler rollers, water pumps) that may be a common failure. Then stick to the standard change interval or be lightly pessimistic. My 2k "banger" (astra auto 1.6, X reg, owned for 5 years) is now at 78k, no issues. I have a belt due this year. Mind you, if it failed beforehand, the car is disposable, so...

 

Mums 52plate Focus snapped the belt - Was coasting downhill when it did so..one expensively lunched Zetec. My Maestro snapped one too, but that was non-interference..slapped a new one on, off we went.

[sippo]

That's the problem with Cambelts. Always change recommended to the manufacturer. For example, skoda say change every 4 years or so many miles.

 

Prevention is better than cure. Some cambelts may not changing for hundreds of thousands of miles but is it worth the risk? Always check the service book of the vehicle.

[featured_spectre]

The cambelt replacement was £49 by a local mechanic, and they both went around the 250k mark. Considering she had the car from new, and it was the first time either went, that is great mileage from them!

[mac_shinobi]

The cambelt replacement was £49 by a local mechanic, and they both went around the 250k mark. Considering she had the car from new, and it was the first time either went, that is great mileage from them!

 

I need to know who that was as cost me £240 inc labour etc to get my cam belt / timing chain etc swapped on my current honda civic

[tmcd35]

I need to know who that was as cost me £240 inc labour etc to get my cam belt / timing chain etc swapped on my current honda civic

 

I've just put my Rover 45 into the garage for a cam belt and clutch change. I'll be lucky to get change out of £1000. They quoted just under £500 for the cam belt and around £400 for the clutch!

[3s-gtech]

Erk! That'll be more than the car is worth then!

 

Had the cam belt done on my MR2 for £160 by a specialist. It's a proper swine on the turbos due to the location of the intercooler, so that was a bargain rate. Some garages do seem to charge a fortune for it though.

[sippo]

£329 for mine.

 

Had it done last time 4 years ago by previous owner. The car is low mileage, but for me it's not worth the risk. If it snaps the costs are so much more!

Edited May 17, 2013 by sippo

[tmcd35]

Erk! That'll be more than the car is worth then!

 

Not quite, but almost

 

Bought the car for £1500 and have spent about the same again getting it fully road worthy. Problem is, it's an 03 plate diesel with low (98k now) milage and it's the Impression S model with all the luxury trims (gorgeous leather seats!). It's more than worth what I've paid out for it. The way I see it, this car should last me a good 6 years+. It'll pay for it self in petrol costs, road tax and insurance - all dirt cheap

[3s-gtech]

You'd never get that money back, but the diesel 45 is a decent car and should go for a good while yet. It's sometimes worth spending on a car you know and like, even if it can't recoup those costs - still often cheaper than replacement!

[laserblazer]

Did a tour of the local dealers and didn't have much luck. One had a Y Reg Fiesta coming in tomorrow, so we plan to go and have a look at that.